After weeks of rumors, it has finally come to fruition. The Bucs have signed veteran cornerback Richard Sherman to an undisclosed contract. Sherman had visited Tampa Bay on Tuesday and remains at the facility.

Sherman has been linked to Tampa Bay for at least two weeks now, after injuries depleted the Bucs’ secondary.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is out for an extended period of time after dislocating his elbow in Week 1, while Jamel Dean’s knee injury last week forced the Bucs to play backups Ross Cockrell and Dee Delaney in extensive roles. The injury to Dean isn’t considered serious, but it looks like that he will miss some time.

Sherman has had a decorated career with the Seahawks and 49ers that includes 484 career tackles, two sacks, 125 pass breakups, 36 interceptions, three first team All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl championship with Seattle.

He last played in 2020, but a calf strain limited him to only five games. Along with the Bucs, his two former teams were also in pursuit to sign the 33-year old corner.

At the moment no penalty has been handed down by the NFL for Sherman’s offseason arrest. In July, Sherman was arrested on five misdemeanor charges. The charges included driving under the influence and second-degree criminal trespassing. Sherman crashed his SUV in a construction zone before trying to bust through the door of a family member’s home. Typically, the NFL does not exact discipline until the legal process has run its’ course. Sherman’s case is not expected to have a conclusion during the 2021 season.

If Sherman can grasp the defensive playbook in time, we can expect him to play as the second string corner behind Carlton Davis III. The Bucs will need him as they are last in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 338.3 yards per game.